Joe Barber of Woodbridge, Va. charged with murder of Rachel Cox in DC

WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- Police in D.C. say they have the man responsible for the sexual assault and death of Rachel Cox from 1984.

Tuesday, the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 55-year-old Joe Anthony Barber of Woodbridge, Va. for the crime. He is charged with first degree murder.

Cox, who was 43 years old, was found unconscious inside a location in the 3300 block of 6th Street, SE the morning of January 1, 1984. Police reported that she appeared to be the victim of a sexual assault and stabbing. Emergency personnel found that she showed no signs consistent with life and was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for a determination of cause and manner of death.

Following an autopsy, the cause of death was ruled to be multiple stab wounds and the manner of her death was homicide.

Charging documents say a DNA sample taken during an autopsy of Cox matched the profile of Barber.

Barber was released from prison in 2004 after being convicted of sexually assaulting a girl.